Cherished since ancient times, cocoa beans have links to the improvement of various physical and mental processes. Chocolate, the confection derived from cocoa beans, also promotes well-being. The polyphenols found in cocoa beans and chocolate...
Made from the seeds of the tropical cocoa tree, chocolate has an alluring aroma and rich, creamy taste that few can resist. Chocolate may go straight to the hips, but it also goes straight to the brain, triggering a series of psychological effects...
When you think of cocoa beans, you probably think of a steaming cup of chocolate. While this might be cocoa beans' most common usage, the beans also have other uses. According to recent research, some of those uses might be medicinal. Commercial...
When you’re trying to decide how to fuel up before and after a run, your go-to strategy may be to down a sports drink and chomp on an energy bar or piece of fruit. However, another option is chocolate. Some evidence suggests that consuming...
According to MedlinePlus, green tea is a product made from the Camellia sinensis plant. Diet green tea has zero carbohydrates, sugars and fat. It contains antioxidants in the form of six active catechins, and may be used for energy, health...
Jasmine, known scientifically as Jasminum officinale, is a flowering shrub that is native to the Mediterranean basin. A quick-growing shrub, jasmine bears white or yellow flowers, which yield a pleasantly scented oil that has been used for...
Flavonoids are substances produced by plants that may benefit human health by acting as free radical-scavenging antioxidants and by other means. Chocolate and cocoa are especially rich in a class of flavonoid called flavanols, which are also found...
Phytochemicals are a number of chemicals found in plants. Some phytochemicals are found in grape seeds, such as gallic acid and catechins. Scientific studies show that phytochemicals in grape seeds may provide health benefits. However, consult...
Cacao liquor, which is a main ingredient in chocolate and cocoa, contains heart-healthy antioxidant polyphenols. However, if you are prone to kidney stones you may want to avoid cacao and supplements made from it because it has the potential to...
Antioxidants help stop cellular damage from free radicals, unstable molecules in the body that may increase your risk of cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Though you can take in antioxidants such as vitamin A, vitamin C and...
While chocolate is not exactly considered a "health food," and when eaten in excess it can contribute to obesity, high blood sugar levels, heart disease and tooth decay, small amounts of certain kinds of chocolate may actually provide health...
Smooth, supple skin gives you a healthy appearance that helps you appear young and vibrant. Skin can become rough in texture due to a number of factors, including dry skin due to arid or hot temperatures, lack of proper nutrients to keep the skin...
Although flavonoids or bioflavonoids are not vitamins in the truest sense, nutritionists often refer to them collectively as vitamin P. According to the Produce for Better Health Foundation, "bioflavonoids are one of the most potent and abundant...
Tea is popular worldwide, and is second only to water in consumption with 3.5 million tons produced each year. Wu long tea, also called oolong tea, comes from the camellia sinensis plant, just as black and green teas do. It is semi-fermented in...
Since the balsam pear is only a flavoring in balsam pear white tea, you will obtain the health benefits of this tea from the white tea itself. White tea comes from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, as black and green tea, but it is made from...
Chocolate has been transformed from a "fattening indulgence to a health food," according to the February 2010 issue of "Harvard Women's Health Watch." The publication cites "a steady stream of studies" that show that dark chocolate improves blood...
Flavonoids are phytonutrients in plant-based food products that often contribute to the color of the foods. They provide antioxidant activity which may play a significant role in cardiovascular health and may help to prevent against diseases such...
According to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institute of Medicine, green tea is made from the Camellia sinensis plant. Diet green tea does not contain any sugar, carbohydrates or fat. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center,...
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, tea is second only to water as the most consumed beverage in the world. In particular, green tea is being increasingly touted for its health benefits. It is now possible to get the health...
Green tea is a highly concentrated source for antioxidants and has improved weight loss in some moderately obese individuals, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). GreenWeightLossTea.com explains that green tea extract is...
Cervical cancer is a malignant tumor that occurs in the cervix, the narrow outer portion of the uterus that opens at the top of the vagina. It is less common cancer among women in the United States and is 100 percent treatable. Cervical cancer can...
Tea, an infusion of leaves from the Camellia sinesis plant, may be one of the healthiest drinks around. With the highest phytochemical levels of all types of tea, green tea stands out as an ideal daily beverage. These phytochemicals in green tea...
Green tea is derived from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant and undergoes the least amount of processing of all teas. Its bioactive compounds are responsible for a wealth of benefits,from boosting blood vessel function to increasing bone...
Phenols and polyphenols are compounds commonly found in nature, especially in plants such as tea leaves and fruits such as grapes. Polyphenols consist of groups of attached phenols and often have different chemical properties compared to simple...
The aptly named Theobroma cocoa, or "food of the gods," is believed to have originated in the ancient cultures of Mesoamerica, perhaps dating back as far as 4,000 years. By the 17th century, Europeans were drinking chocolate beverages for...
Although it doesn't look like much before it's ground and roasted and mixed with sugar and milk, the cacao bean is the source of all chocolate confections. If you want the benefits of cacao without the calories or do not actually care for...
Although embraced as one of the latest wonder substances in the food world, green tea has been consumed globally for thousand of years. As more evidence is uncovered concerning the possible medicinal powers of antioxidants, green tea, with its...
The simple infusion of water and tea leaves releases a host of naturally occurring chemicals that makes tea one of the healthiest beverages around. All tea comes from the plant Camellia sinensis, but processing has effects on the type and amount...
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder caused by insufficient production of insulin, an important blood sugar metabolism hormone. Too much sugar circulating in your blood negatively affects every cell in your body as well as the biochemical...
